“José Alí Meza breaks the deadlock for Deportivo La Guaira, giving the home side a deserved lead that they would protect for almost an hour.”
Pivotal“Deep into stoppage time, Leonel Justiniano — booked earlier in the match — powers home to equalise for Club Bolívar and deny La Guaira what had looked like a deserved home win, triggering chaotic scenes on the touchline.”
Pivotal
Deportivo La Guaira
Club BolívarDeportivo La Guaira looked set to claim all three points on home soil after José Alí Meza broke the deadlock just before the half-hour mark, and for long stretches the Venezuelan side were the more dangerous team, generating 37 dangerous attacks and six shots on target to Bolívar's four. Despite matching their opponents on possession — 52 to 48 in favour of the Bolivians — La Guaira's clinical edge in the first half appeared decisive as Bolívar struggled to convert their chances, missing three big opportunities across the ninety minutes. However, in a chaotic final ten minutes that saw wholesale substitutions from both benches, it was Justiniano — who had seen yellow in the first half — who headed home in the 90th minute to level matters and spark a touchline melee that produced four bookings in injury time. The draw is a frustrating outcome for La Guaira, who created the better opportunities and were the more aggressive side, while Bolívar will be relieved to escape with a point after being second-best for much of the contest.
How entertaining was this match?
Yellow card shown to Anthony Chelin Uribe Francia.
Leonel JustinianoLeonel Justiniano Arauz takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
Jose Manuel Sagredo Chavez receives a yellow card.
Luis Martinez receives a yellow card.
Cesar Da Silva comes on for Rommell Jhoan Ibarra Hernandez.
Franco Caceres comes on for Carlos Faya.
Anthony Chelin Uribe Francia comes on for Flabian Londono.
Xavier Ricardo Arreaga receives a second yellow card.
Martin Cauteruccio is on, and Luis Paz is off.
Flabian Londono takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Yellow card shown to Guillermo Luis Ortiz.
Guillermo Luis Ortiz attempts a header but misses the shot.
Lucas Chavez is on, and Carlos Antonio Melgar Vargas is off.
Pato Rodriguez attempts a left-footed shot but misses.
Alexis Rodriguez replaces Juan Carlos Castellanos.
Rafael Arace is on, and Jose Ali Meza Draegertt is off.
Juan Carlos Castellanos takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Xavier Ricardo Arreaga receives a yellow card.
Carlos Faya takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Jhon Garcia Sossa comes on for Braian Oyola.
Jorge Abdiel Gutierrez Cornejo takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Juan Carlos Castellanos has a shot with his left foot, but it's blocked.
Xavier Ricardo Arreaga attempts a header but misses the shot.
Robson Tome's left-footed shot is saved.
Dorny Romero's right-footed shot is saved.
Dorny Romero takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Luis Pena's left-footed shot is saved.
Santiago Echeverría is on, Ignacio Gariglio is off.
The first half ends with a score of 1-0.
Leonel JustinianoYellow CardYellow card issued to Leonel Justiniano Arauz.
Carlos Antonio Melgar Vargas takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Carlos Antonio Melgar Vargas takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Robson Tome takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Leonel Justiniano Arauz takes a left-footed shot but misses.
José Alí MezaShot from Jose Ali Meza Draegertt with his right foot results in a goal.
Martin Gianoli takes a shot with his head, but it's blocked.
Pato Rodriguez takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Flabian Londono takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Pato Rodriguez takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Carlos Antonio Melgar Vargas takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Jose Ali Meza Draegertt takes a left-footed shot, but it is saved.
Deportivo La Guaira host Club Bolívar in a pivotal Copa Libertadores Group C showdown at the Estadio Olímpico de la UCV, with the Venezuelan side desperately needing their first win of the campaign. Bolívar arrive buoyed by a recent victory over Fluminense but still haunted by their home draw against this same opponent just weeks ago. With qualification spots on the line, both teams have everything to play for in Caracas.
